Action for grand pianos.



G. BJORKLAND. ACTION PON GRAND PIANosI4 APPLICATION I'LED 00T.25, 1913.

Patented June 16, 1914.

v hammer butt 16 all eusravn BJORKLAND, or BAYONNE, Naw Jnnsnv ACTION non GRAND Pianos.

i ,icones Y Specification of Letters atent.

rammen June 16, i914.

Application filed October 25, 1913. Serial No. 797,158.

To all whom 'it may concern; l

Be it known that I, GUsrAvn BJORKLAND, a citizen of the United. States, residing at Bayonne, county of Hudson, and State of blew Jersey, have invented ai new and useful lmproved Action for Grand Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

This .inventionA relates to an action' for grand pianos, which may be operated either by keys or by a Self playing device, and which is so constructed that the playei` mechanism operates upon the action entirely independent of the keys, so that While the piano is played automaticallythe keys remain inert and functionless.

ln the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a side view partly in section of a piano action embodying my inventionfshowing the normal position of the parts; Fig. 2 a similar view with the key depressed, Aand Fig. 3 a detail of the rocker and adjoining part-s.

' To a iiange 10 of the action rail 11, 1s

fulcrumed the support 12, from which eX- tends upwardly a flange 13, to which is pivoted the repetition lever 1 4. The jack 15 which is pivoted to the support, passes vlever 14, and engages the as usual. As heretofore generally constructed, the support 12, was directly engaged by and actuated from the capstan 17 extending upwardly from the key 1S. l iscard this arrangement, and interpose "'tween the capstan and support an additional lever or member 19, which is entirely disconnected from the key and supthrough a slot of port, and is adapted to be actuated either by y the key or by pneumati'cor other automatic at its-forward end to a This additional member is pivoted flange 20 of a liXed rail 21, which is located a substantial distance above the key. The rear or free end ci the lever extends some distance back ol' the key and beneath the flange 10 of support 12, the key hein' made shorter than in actions as heretofore generally constructed. This free end is engaged from below by the sticker 22 of a pneumatic or other self-playing mechanism, such sticker extending upwardly back of the key so as to clear the same. At its top the lever carries the bac k check 23, and a pad 24 by means of which 1t is adapted to actuate-the damper-lever (not.

shown). Ata point opposite the capstan ing top upon which rests a knuckle 26 of support-12,1% that the lever actuates the latter, with a minimum amount of friction. Means are provided tor transmitting the movement of the key 18 to the lever insuch a manner that friction between the latter and capstan 17 is likewise prevented, such means being especially desirable las these two parts turn with diierent radii on widely dillerent centers. These means consist of a rocker or movable block 27 received within a lower notch 28 of the lever and provided with an upwardly extending flange 29, that enters a recess 30 above said notch. A. pivot 31, secures flange 29 to the cheeks of recess 30, so that the rocker is freely movable relatively to the lever within notch 28. The

lower face of rocker 27 is rounded and cushioned as shown to form a contact surface for the head of capstan 17 upon which the X rocker is thus movably supported.

When the instrument is played -by hand, the movement of the key will be transmitted from the capstan through the rocker to the lever and thence to the Support 12, 'from whence the conventional part of the action is operatedin the usual"ni'an1ier. During this operation, the rocker will turn freely on its ulcrum 31, while the support will rock freel on projection 25, so that friction is avoided.7

When the instrument is played automatically, the movement is imparted from the sticker 22 directly to the lever, Without in any way burdening or requiring the intervention of the key. ln this way power is economized while furthermore the key may be locked against movement by a rail 32. To regulate the stroke of the action, while being played either manually or mechanically, there is tapped into a liange of the action rail 11 a regulating button 33, which limits the sweep of the lever.

l claim:

1. In a grand piano action, a key having a capstan, a rail above the key, a lever pivoted to said rail and extending a distance beu yond the key, a sup ort resting u on the lever, an automatica ly actuated liter engaging the projecting end of .the lever, and a rocker pivoted to the lever and resting upon the capstan.

2. In a grand piano action, a key having a capstan, a rail above the key, a lever pivoted to said rail and extending a distance beyond the key, said lever being provided with a lower notclnaI support resting upon the l ofthe lever, a second rail above the pro;

lever, an automatically actuated lifter engaging theprojectin end of the lever, and a iocker pivoted to t e lever and accommodated Within the lever-notch, said rocker being movably supported on the capstan.

3. In a grand piano action, a key having a eapstan, a rail above'the key, a levelpivoted to said rail-land having an uppei` projection and a lower notch, said lever extending a distance beyond the key, an automatically actuated lifter engaging the projecting end Copies of this patent may be obtained for vjecting end of the lever, a support pivoted to said second1ail and having a knuckle that rests upon the lever-projection, and a rocker pivoted to the leve!` and accommol ldated within the leverenotch, said rocker be- 'ing movably supported upon the capstan.

I GUSTAVE BJORKLAND.

Witnesses: FxANK v. BRIESEN, DANm-L HOLMGBEN.

vc cents each,` by addressing the Commissioner o! Intenta, Washington, D. G."v 

